Effects of Bulimia Essay

Have you ever looked in the mirror and hated what you saw? In today’s world, people are over consumed with the image of the perfect and ideal look for teenagers and women worldwide. Bulimia is a serious, depressive psychological eating disorder. Bulimia is a growing concern as cultural attitudes and the sociological environment continues to idolize thinness and physical attractiveness. Teenagers and young adults are most susceptible to this problem, for which most common symptoms include uncontrollable and continuous vomiting, depression or mood swings.

The following reasons will demonstrate the effects of bulimia in a person. Physical effects, mental and emotional effects, and death or suicides are the results of bulimia.

The first effect of bulimia on a person is a physical effect. Bulimia can have physical effects on a person’s body. Teeth enamel erosion and cavities are some of the effects of bulimia which result from stomach acid from vomiting. The stomach acid causes the esophagus to produce burn heart and the salivary glands make it swell.

The damage to the esophagus alone can cause ulcers and other scarring problems which may lead to sudden bleeding. Aside from the long-term consequences, bulimia can lead to a variety of imbalances in the body. Bulimia causes body fatigue which results from lack of nutrition.

Secondly, bulimia can have some mental and emotional effects on a person. People with bulimia may be tired and unable to perform at peak levels from the mental and physical stress. Bulimia can cause tension with family and friends interrupting the lives of people with the disorder. Damaged relationships are normal for those with bulimia. Depression and anxiety are common effects of bulimia. Low self-esteem is one of the major problem side effects that bulimia can cause. A desire for perfection, heightened loneliness, and isolation, and an obsession for food can contribute to the side effects. Because of the extreme stress that comes along with bulimia, many suffers become depressed and even suidal.

Finally, bulimia can cause death from a damaged heart or loss of body chemicals. Suicide remains one of the main causes of death in eating disorder suffers and hypokalemia. Bulimia causes hypokalemia or low potassium because a state of hypokalemia is considered a medical emergency. Ten percent of people with bulimia eventually die from its effects, usually from the electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration.

People who do not understand the condition might say that person cannot help being bulimic. It might run in the family. It is an opinionated point until it affects someone physically. They think it is simply a matter of self opinion. By calling bulimia inappropriate or dangerous, you are belittling those who are bulimic, and feeding their lack of self-worth. However, bulimia is the misuse of food to try to reduce emotional problems. When people are unable to face his feelings, define problems and resolve them effectively, that person is more prone to become susceptible to the onset of bulimia.

In conclusion, bulimia can be treated successfully, partly because a bulimic patient usually wants to be treated and most antidepressant drugs relieve the symptoms usually more quickly than they relieve depression. Side effects of antidepressant tend to cause weight loss rather than weight gain. By promoting a healthy environment, bulimia can be eradicated or significantly diminished. Bulimia can have a quite harmful effect on the body and mind over a long period of time. A strict and cold parental attitude and lack of showing love to children from parents can become a trigger for developing a wrong body image in children. Many individuals with bulimia do not seek help until their thirties or forties when their eating behavior is deeply ingrained and more difficult to change.

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